Round white shaker filled with brown gingerbread man sequins beside a roll of white foam tape

How to Make a Shaker Ornament with Cardstock and Acetate

November 8, 2026

To make a shaker ornament, cut a front frame with a window and a back panel from cardstock. Tape clear acetate behind the window, build a wall of foam tape all the way around it, fill it about half full with sequins or glitter, then press the back panel on to seal it. Thread twine through the hanging hole and it's ready for the tree.

A shaker ornament is a shaker card you can hang. It's the same idea: a clear window with little bits inside that move every time the tree gets bumped. If you've made a shaker card before, you already know how to do this. If you haven't, this is a great first one, because an ornament is small and fast.

Shop the Shaker Tree Ornament SVG · Shop Clear Acetate · Shop Foam Tape

Round white shaker filled with brown gingerbread man sequins beside a roll of white foam tape

What you'll need to make a shaker ornament

A shaker ornament cut file. I have two: the Shaker Christmas Tree Ornament and the Snowglobe Shaker Ornament. Each one comes with the front frame, back panel, and foam spacer ring.
Smooth cardstock in green, gold, white, blue, or any holiday palette
Clear acetate for the window
White foam tape or black foam tape for the wall
Double sided craft tape for sealing
Mini sequins, fine glitter, fake snow, or micro beads to fill it
Twine or ribbon for hanging

How to make a shaker ornament: step by step

Step 1: Cut your cardstock pieces

Upload the SVG to Design Space and cut the front frame and back panel from cardstock. If you resize the ornament, select every piece and resize them together so the spacer ring still lines up with the window.

Step 2: Cut the acetate window

Cut a piece of acetate a little bigger than the window opening. If you cut it on your Cricut, use the Acetate material setting and run a small test cut first. Peel the protective film off both sides before you use it, because the film is what kept it scratch free.

Step 3: Tape the acetate behind the window

Flip the front frame face down and tape the acetate over the opening with thin strips of double sided tape. Keep the tape close to the edge of the window so it hides behind the frame.

Step 4: Build the foam wall

Run foam tape all the way around the window on the back of the frame, right on top of the acetate edge. The spacer ring in the file shows you the shape to follow. Leave no gaps, not even at the corners. A gap is where glitter sneaks out. My foam tape is 1/8" thick, which gives the filling plenty of room to move.

Step 5: Fill it about half full

Pour your sequins or glitter into the center. About half full looks best, because the filling needs empty space to shake. Overfill it and nothing moves.

Step 6: Seal it with the back panel

Peel the liner off the foam tape and press the back panel on. Press firmly all the way around the edge. Double sided tape is more reliable here than glue, which can seep into the shaker and make a mess.

Step 7: Add the hanger

Thread twine or ribbon through the hanging hole, tie a loop, and hang it on the tree.

White or black foam tape for a shaker ornament?

Match the tape to your cardstock. Use white foam tape behind white, pastel, and light colors, and black foam tape behind black and dark cardstock. That way the foam edge doesn't peek out through the window.

What to put inside a shaker ornament

Mini sequins: they slide and catch the tree lights. Themed shapes like the gingerbread men in the photo above are so fun.
Fine glitter or fake snow: perfect for the snowglobe, so it drifts like real snow.
Micro beads: tiny and round, so they roll all over the window.
A mix: a few larger sequins with a pinch of fine glitter gives you movement and sparkle.

Ways to personalize a shaker ornament

Write the year on the back: make one every year and you've got a family tradition.
Turn it into a gift tag: write the recipient's name on the back and tie it to a present. It's a tag they keep. More handmade gifts are in my Cricut Christmas gift ideas post.
Add glitter to the frame: cut the front frame from shed-free glitter cardstock on a LightGrip mat for extra sparkle.
Use them on a wreath: wire a few onto an evergreen wreath.

Love this technique? My shaker card tutorial uses the same steps on a card, and my clear acetate post has more ideas for the rest of the sheet.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a shaker ornament?

Cut a front frame and back panel from cardstock. Tape clear acetate behind the window, build a foam tape wall around it, fill it about half full, and press the back panel on to seal it.

What do you put in a shaker ornament?

Mini sequins, fine glitter, fake snow, or micro beads. Fill it about half full so the filling has room to move.

How do I keep glitter from leaking out of my shaker?

Run the foam tape all the way around the window with no gaps, then press the back panel firmly around every edge. Use double sided tape instead of glue.

What Cricut setting do I use for acetate?

Choose the Acetate material setting in Design Space and run a small test cut first, since every machine and blade is a little different.

Should I use white or black foam tape?

Match it to your cardstock. White foam tape goes behind light colors, and black foam tape goes behind dark colors so the foam edge doesn't show.

Go make something that shakes